The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-11-02
MIJOR d. Il. BURKE.
A History of the Events that Led to Dem
ocratic Supremacy in Louisiana.

a History Of the Events that Led to DEM
ocratic Supremacy in Louisiana.
Col. Young introduced Major E. A. Burke
as follows:
Fellow-citizens-I have the honor to pre-
sent to you Major ETA. Burke lvoclterous
cheersl, gentleman who is the present
treasurer of the State, and whom you all
recognize as being one who has had SO much
| to do with the success Of the DEMOCRATIC
party in the past, in the administration OF
the affairs Of the State Of Louisiana, and
in her successes up to the present hour.
| [Oheers.l
Major Burke said:
| Friends and Fellow Citizens
| this is the first time in my public career that
| have had the satisfaction of speaking dl-
rectly to the people Of this parish, l do not
| feel that am a stranger IN or to Caddo. AS
look into the faces OF the fair women before
me, forget for the moment the harsh, nay.
cruel incidents Of this extraordinary poilfi
campaign, and recall the picture Of loved
sister, an independent toller, teaching some
OF those within the sound OF my voice, be;
| fore the clash OF arms called our men and
| boys to battle.
| shall forever cherish grateful recoIlec-
ton of the kindness and affection displayed
to a dear sister by the noble women and men
OF Caddo when, as a boy OF sixteen, Was
fighting the bread-winning battle III dis
tant State. Again in later years, when tho
| fatal issue came, when every son of the South
! was called upon by his county for contri-
| button OF blood, brain or service, after Climb
ing from the ranks through successive grades
OF corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and cap
| tain, it ,Fas here in Shreveport, over twenty
four, years ago, that conceived and formu--
| lated the plan for the organization OF @ field
transportation department OF the Trans
mississippi, which was, on the recommended
ton of Gen. Il. Kirby Smith, adopted by the
| Confederate government.
| Here was laid the foundation plan of my
| industrial work of subsequent years. Here
| it was received the cordial and substantial
| encouragement from the General Command
| ing, which enabled me to build up great
workshops establish intirmaries, and perfect
| plans which made me feel that was no lag
gard in my country's strugglet. But, fear
| that am treading on tender ground. Things
| have changed; some for the better, thank
God; some for the worse.
Then the public man who made the, indus
struggled with zeal and fidelity to make the
South independent by the. DEVELOPMENT OF
her magnificent resources, had the applause
of all citizens and became the recipient Of
come about a new class. or new doctrine, has
sprung up, proposing to reverse the old fogy
system of honoring public-spirited effortaDd
| public service.
For myself ! make no complaint. have
been honored by the people OF this State pos
sibly beyond my deserts. ii I have served
you, / have been rewarded by such manifes-
| tatlons OF your respect and confidence as to
at least square the account, and when you
choose to terminate my public service, in
stead OF reproacheS, you will have forever
| my grateful acknowledgements for the hon
ors received at your hands and for the oppor-
tunlty given me to link my name with the
| history of your struggles and victorious re-
| eemption. There is, however,
| ADANGER IN THE NEW DOCTRINE
which ought to be considered by the people.
We are given to understand by these latter
day, saints OF reform. in their crusade against
an honored Democrat of North Louisiana,
Samuel ID. McEnery, the present Governor
OF the State, that ii ii be not q positive crime
to serve the material interests of the people,
such service at least deserves no commenda-
ton.
In vain we point 70 the administration Of
public affairs in the executive departments
of the State, to increased efficiency in the
collection OF the public revenue, to vast re-
ductions in public expenditures $3.50, 900
the tioeting debt, to the gradual retirement
OF old indebtedness, to the fact that the Off
GERS and institutions OF the State are no
longer at the mercy OF biokers, Dnt now re-
celve Cash for their warrants, that the public
credit has increased from forty-two cents on
the dollar to ninety cents, and is rapidly
nearing par.
In vain do we point to the fact thet the I'LL
VIZ iGbpGCt Vi tllS DpOltlp
eveIwhere: that life, liberty and property is
protected and preserved: that justice is more
speedily administered than in any other State
of the South; that through the wise exercise
rejoicing in a regeneration OF their local at
ialrs through efficient police inries.
In vain 30 we point to agricultural bureaus
and societies. immigration conventions and
educational organizations, fostered and en-
couraeed, az part OF wise government. In
the face OF the fact that 1850, 900 cubic
feet of water per second was pouring over
the lands and onto the people: that s, oOO.-
0Go, cubic yards OF levees have been built by
McEnery's administration, st less average
cost than by any former administration; that
the reconstruction of the levee system ia now
practically accomplished, although no citi-
zen OF the State dreamed that it was possible
under ten years, in face of the fact that this
result IS mainly due to determined policy
OF self-help and co operation, inaugurated
and carried out by a determined Governor
we have SO far failed to extort from the sup
porters Of Gen. Nichols, either an admis-
Is entitled to, any credit whatever, or, that
the. party which placed him in power, and
which Ii responsible for his acts, is deserving
OF the continued support Of the people.
Nay more, from the beginning of the cam
palgn not only has the Governor of the State
been arraigned. but the fiercest assaults are
hurled by Gen. Nichols against the party
which has honored him III the past, and 10
Which i! ), the people owe their redemption. Here
working, active Democratic party OF the pas.
| have noticed for several years past the
growing dissatisfaction with the pa,1y man
agement and the party administration of af.
Ialrs. hnd that there is very general sem
tlnaent among the people that the tone of the
RartY and OF its officials is greatly below what
the Democratic masses had the right to ex.
pect; that talent and ability go for nothing.
honest and faithful devoted party service &c
His reckless assertions eliminate in the
apostles Of the latter day Democracy weia 81
one time bowling Radicals, and not SO Ions
ago either. BY some mysterious process
some, OF them nave become absolute djsnens.
ersof Democratic patronage and absolute al
fcctorS OF the Judgment Of Democratic lead
ers. Many OF them have succeeded. etckor
l,ke, ~ getting into a Democratic nest which
they did not make.'
surprise that q candidate for The dignised
once OF Chlef Magistrate should descend te
the use OF such language, or indulge in
vague or general insinuations, but it did moi
occur TO me ut any time that his remarks
we're -N- ~
INTENDED TO APPLY TO aIE
Imagine the surprise of my friends when ths
N1choiis campaign was opened i'm the DarisI
OF orleans the other day by speeches in tl,e
: tWeItn, hfst and fifteenth wards to find
myself paraded as one of the bowling Rsdi
J Gals, and an attempt made to prove the fact
, by reading what purported to be test
mony given by me before tho Potter corr.
m sh IN 1876 in favor OF our people,
wherein referring to the campaign Of ST.
| am reported as saying that [ was 'Iib
e 81 y Repuoiiesan" and had never belonged tf
. the Democratic party
IhIs Improvements was made by Hon. E.
} BOON, aud has now become STANDARD matte,
!, Luz tlie Nrlchoils orators In the Orleans cam.
pals s It would not have required mich eff
,9Ft on the part OF the venerable seller 81
Nichols hats to have sent to me for informa.
! tlon on this question. when his aTtention
"o.ia nave been called to the fact that re.